When talking about "Pirated!" it's almost impossible not to draw a parallel to "Singin' in the Rain," the 1952 MGM musical.

Often referred to as the best musical ever made, "Singin' in the Rain" is about Hollywood's transition from silent pictures to "talkies," and the problems that arose because of it.

What happens when singers can't act, and actors can't sing?

Take that premise, and combine it with the splendor of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera, "The Pirates of Penzance," and you have "Pirated!"  which opens at Rodger's Memorial Theatre Friday.

"Pirated!" is the creation of local director/choreographer Jim Christian, who also teaches at Weber State University. Christian's original work was selected as the national winner in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in 1994, and it was presented at the Kennedy Center.

Since Christian also directs the Rodgers production, this is a rare chance to see the show through the eyes of its creator. The show stars David Marsden, Dave Hill, Megan Phillips Cash, Jan Williams Smith, Lindsay Hickman, Melissa Cecala, JD Madsen and Cameron Garner.

This week's other opening is "Stones in His Pockets," running three shows only at the Old Lyric Repertory Company in Logan. OLRC has brought in Lenard Petit, artistic director of the Michael Chekhov Acting Studio in New York and professor at Rutgers University, to direct the two-man show by Marie Jones.

"Stones" is about a rural Ireland town as a Hollywood crew descends to shoot a movie, using the townsfolk as extras. The show is a remarkable acting feat for veteran OLRC member Richie Call and east coast actor Joseph Tisa, who play all 15 townspeople  without any costumes changes and without leaving the stage. They do it through body language, voice inflections and mannerisms.

"Stones" is a moving look at people, how we interact with one another, and is not to be missed.